What Are the Symptoms of Gonorrhea and Chlamydia?

Symptoms of Gonorrhea:

• Burning pain with urination
• White, yellow, or greenish penile discharge
• Increased vaginal discharge
• Bleeding between periods
• Anal itching, soreness, or painful bowel movements
• Rectal bleeding
• Tender testicles
• Lower abdominal pain

Symptoms of Chlamydia:

• Painful urination
• Painful sex
• Lower abdominal pain
• Yellowish vaginal discharge with odor
• Bleeding between periods
• Watery or whitish penile discharge
• Swollen or tender testicles

How Are Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Tested?

1. Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT): Finds molecules unique to the bacterial species within a few days.
2. Bacterial Culture: Grows a bacterial culture to identify N. gonorrhoeae.

How Can I Get Tested for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea?

• Public Health Clinic: Visit your local public health clinic for an appointment or walk-in service.
• QuickMD: Order your own chlamydia/gonorrhea test through QuickMD without a doctor’s appointment. The specimen can be collected at any LabCorp location, and a QuickMD physician will contact you with the results.

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1. Inspect the Prefilled Syringe and Needle (Pen)

• Check the Medication: Make sure the medication is Wegovy.
• Verify the Dose: Ensure the dose on the pen matches what your doctor prescribed.
• Check the Expiration Date: Confirm the expiration date has not passed.
• Inspect the Liquid: The liquid inside should be clear and colorless.

2. Choose Your Wegovy Injection Site

• Self-Injecting: Choose the lower abdomen or upper thigh.
• Someone Else Injecting: The site can be the lower abdomen, upper thigh, or upper arm.
• Clean the Injection Site: Use an alcohol pad or soap and water to clean the area.

3. Administer the Wegovy Injection

1. Remove the Cap: Take the cap off the pen. You won’t see the needle.
2. Align the Pen: Align the pen to your body to see the window.
3. Press the Pen: Press the bottom of the pen onto your skin until you hear a click. The yellow bar, which is a visual indicator of the injection process, should start moving. This movement confirms that the medication is being administered.
4. Listen for the Second Click: You’ll hear a second click as the injection is administered. If you don’t see the yellow bar moving, press more firmly.
5. To complete the Injection, Hold the pen on your skin until the yellow bar stops moving, then slowly remove it.

Wegovy Disposal

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If you’re considering an online Ozempic prescription for weight loss but are hesitant about injections, there’s good news. Rybelsus offers the same active ingredient in a convenient pill form, making it a great alternative for those who prefer not to use injectables.

What is Rybelsus?

Rybelsus contains the same medication as Ozempic—semaglutide—but it comes in pill form. It can be prescribed for weight loss and is taken once a day. While Rybelsus is somewhat less effective than Ozempic, it still helps with weight loss by making patients feel full and reducing appetite.

When used with a diet and exercise program, it can be highly effective in losing weight.

How Much Does Rybelsus Cost?

As with most GLP-1 agonists, Rybelsus can be a significant investment. A one-month supply, which typically consists of 30 tablets of 7.0 mg, can cost between $934 and $995. To help manage the cost, consider visiting the GoodRx Rybelsus page for a coupon and to locate the most affordable pharmacy in your area.

Where Can I Get Rybelsus?

QuickMD is a trusted provider of weight loss treatments, including Rybelsus. If medically appropriate, our doctors can prescribe Rybelsus online through a telemedicine consultation.

To determine your eligibility for a prescription, discuss weight loss with one of our providers.

What Is Mounjaro?

How Does Mounjaro Work for Weight Loss?

• Control Blood Sugar: Keeps your blood sugar levels in check.
• Reduce Appetite: Makes you feel full, so you eat less.
• Slow Digestion: Food stays in your stomach longer, which helps you feel satisfied for longer periods.

Can Mounjaro Be Prescribed for Weight Loss?

What Results Can You Expect?

How Can You Get a Prescription for Mounjaro?

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What Causes Kidney Stones?

Key Causes of Kidney Stones:

• Dehydration: Drinking too little fluid regularly can lead to concentrated urine, which increases the risk of stone formation.
• High Protein Diet: Excess protein can increase uric acid levels, which can precipitate minerals and form stones.
• High-Sodium Diet: Too much sodium can increase calcium in the urine, raising the likelihood of calcium stones.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Stones?

• Severe pain on one side of the lower abdomen or the flanks
• Red, pink, or brownish urine
• Chills
• Nausea and vomiting

How Are Kidney Stones Treated?

Small Stones:

• Pain Management: Medications like Aleve (naproxen) or Advil (ibuprofen) can help with pain.
• Alpha Blockers, such as Flomax (tamsulosin) and Jalyn (dutasteride and tamsulosin), are medications that can assist in the passage of stones from the ureters to the bladder. These drugs work by relaxing the muscles in the ureter, which can help the stone pass more easily.

Large Stones:

• Lithotripsy: A technique that uses ultrasound shock waves to break up stones.
• Ureteroscopy: A procedure where physicians remove or break up stones directly under camera guidance.
• Surgery: In extreme cases, surgery may be necessary.

Can I Be Treated for Kidney Stones via Telemedicine?

How Much Does Flomax Cost?

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What Should I Do If I Miss the Scheduled Date of My Dose?

• If it has been five days or fewer since you missed the dose: Take the missed dose as soon as possible, then take the next dose on schedule.
• If it has been more than five days since you missed the dose: Skip the missed dose altogether and go on to the next dose as scheduled.

Tips for Remembering Your Dose of Ozempic

• Set a Routine: Plan to take your dose at the same time each week.
• Use Reminders: Mark a calendar or set a reminder on your smartphone or computer.
• Visual Cues: Place a note on the refrigerator door or another visible location to help remind you.

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What is TSH?

• High TSH Levels: This can indicate that the thyroid gland is having difficulty producing enough thyroid hormone and, therefore, requires higher levels of TSH to stimulate it.
• Low TSH Levels: This can indicate high thyroid hormone levels, which turn off the pituitary function of producing TSH.

What is Free T4?

• Low Free T4 Levels (Hypothyroidism): This can result in symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, hair thinning, poor concentration, constipation, and dry skin.
• High Free T4 Levels (Hyperthyroidism): This can result in symptoms such as heat intolerance, fast heartbeat, nervousness, and unexplained weight loss.

What Are Normal Ranges for Thyroid Function Test Results?

• Normal TSH: 0.5 to 5.0 milli-international units per liter (mIU/L)
• Normal Free T4: 5.0 to 12.0 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL)

Where Can I Order a Thyroid Test?

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Kratom and stronger 7-OH products can become difficult to stop, regardless of why or how someone started using them. Over time, you may find yourself needing more to get the same effect or experiencing withdrawal when you go without it.

If that sounds familiar, you don’t have to figure out what comes next on your own. Treatment and support are available to help you move forward.

Does kratom work for opioid withdrawal?

No. There’s no reliable evidence that kratom, or concentrated 7-OH products, safely get you through opioid withdrawal on their own. Using either one to self-treat withdrawal can leave you dependent on kratom or 7-OH instead, with a withdrawal of its own to go through later. 

Here’s the evidence:

• Close to 3 in 10 regular kratom users end up meeting the criteria for kratom use disorder, according to a 2022 survey, with withdrawal symptoms of their own: stomach upset, restlessness, anxiety, irritability, and cravings. (This survey is not a measure of how common this is for everyone who tries kratom.)
• For some people, kratom use disorder becomes a path toward opioid use rather than a way to quit use, according to a 2023 review of the research.
• Going through withdrawal alone carries real risk. In one documented case, a person self-treated opioid withdrawal with kratom and later had a seizure after combining it with another substance. It’s a single case, not a typical outcome, but it’s a reminder that managing withdrawal without a doctor involved isn’t risk-free.

None of this means you’re stuck. It means the safer route is with a QuickMD doctor, not more kratom or 7-OH. Our kratom and 7-OH treatment page lays out exactly what that path looks like.

Why people turn to kratom and 7-OH during opioid withdrawal

Kratom or 7-OH products are widely available at gas stations or online without anyone asking questions, which can make them seem like an accessible option for managing opioid withdrawal. They also don’t carry the stigma that calling a doctor about opioid withdrawal can carry. And, because they act on some of the same opioid receptors in the brain, they may temporarily reduce some withdrawal symptoms. 

But not all products sold as kratom are the same. Some kratom products on the market now are also concentrated with 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, a compound found naturally in kratom leaf at very low levels but added in much higher amounts to certain extracts, shots, and gummies.

These are often marketed as stronger or faster-acting. In your body, they act much closer to a full opioid than the leaf does, which increases the risks of dependence, addiction, withdrawal, and other adverse effects. Our article on the differences between kratom and 7-OH explains this in more detail.

What the research says about kratom and 7-OH for opioid withdrawal

Research on kratom and 7-OH is still limited. There aren’t large clinical studies establishing their safety or effectiveness for managing withdrawal, and even less is known about concentrated 7-OH products.

That uncertainty matters because kratom and 7-OH can themselves lead to dependence, addiction, and withdrawal. If you’re experiencing opioid withdrawal, a doctor can help you explore established treatment options backed by strong clinical evidence.

Doctors have used buprenorphine-naloxone, the same medication prescribed for opioid use disorder, to successfully treat a person’s kratom use disorder.

Research specifically tracking kratom and 7-OH withdrawal is also limited, which means there isn’t one established timeline for how symptoms will unfold.

What withdrawal from opioids and kratom actually feels like

Withdrawal can affect both your body and your mood. Because kratom acts on some of the same receptors as opioids, withdrawal can include similar symptoms.

Physically, people commonly notice:

• Muscle aches
• Sweating and chills
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or other stomach upset
• Trouble sleeping
• Restlessness

Emotionally, it’s common to feel:

• Anxious
• Irritable or on edge
• Strong cravings

While experiences vary, withdrawal can sometimes become serious. One published case described a patient hospitalized with kratom withdrawal whose condition worsened over about 20 hours, including confusion and difficulty breathing, before he experienced cardiac arrest and required emergency treatment.

Is it safe to start Suboxone® after using kratom or 7-OH?

It can be, and it’s one of the most effective paths off kratom or 7-OH, but only with the right timing.

Buprenorphine, the medicine in Suboxone®, needs to be started once you’re already feeling moderate withdrawal, and definitely not before experiencing moderate withdrawal. Starting Suboxone too soon after your last use of kratom or 7-OH can trigger a sudden, more intense withdrawal reaction called precipitated withdrawal.

That’s not a reason to avoid Suboxone. It’s the reason your first dose is timed by a licensed doctor, based on how you’re feeling at the moment, not a fixed number of hours since you last used.

What actually helps you quit kratom, 7-OH, and opioids

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) with buprenorphine-naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Suboxone, is an evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder. Your doctor works with you to determine whether medication is appropriate and builds a treatment plan around your individual needs.

We’ve walked this path with a lot of people. QuickMD doctors have completed more than 30,000 visits for kratom and 7-OH dependence and addiction treatment, and helped over 20,000 people work toward quitting. 

Here’s what a visit with a QuickMD doctor looks like:

• A $99 online visit with a licensed doctor is where treatment starts.
• If Suboxone is appropriate, your prescription can often be filled at your local pharmacy the same day or delivered to your door in as little as two days through QuickMD Home Delivery.
• If you’re still using opioids, kratom, or 7-OH right now, a standalone naloxone prescription (used to reverse an overdose) is available through the same kind of visit. 
• QuickMD sees patients in 40+ states, so there’s a good chance we cover yours.

Studies on Chocolate and Acne

1. 2011 Study (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology):
   • Findings: There was a strong association between eating chocolate and acne breakouts.
   • Participants: Only ten men.
2. 1969 Study (Journal of the American Medical Association):
   • Findings: There was no difference in acne between participants eating chocolate and those not eating chocolate.
   • Participants: 65 participants. Additionally, the study tested 5 participants consuming two chocolate bars a day for a month and found no increase in skin oiliness.
3. 1971 Study (American Family Physician):
   • Findings: There was no correlation between chocolate consumption and acne.
   • Participants: 27 students.

Could Glycemic Index Be the Culprit?

Studies on Glycemic Index and Acne:

1. 2007 Study (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology):
   • Findings: After a 12-week study of 43 male acne patients, those with lower glycemic load diets showed improvements in their acne.
   • Participants: 43 male acne patients.
2. 2008 Study (Journal of Dermatologic Science):
   • Findings: Patients on a low glycemic diet showed improved skin and lowered levels of skin fats.
   • Participants: Participants were compared to low and high glycemic diets.
3. Further Support (American Academy of Dermatology):
   • Findings: 87% of 2,258 patients on a low-glycemic diet reduced their acne, and 91% reduced their need for acne medications.

Other Studies:

• Korean Study: 32 patients aged 20 to 27 showed significantly less acne after ten weeks on a low-glycemic diet.
• Turkish Study: 86 participants with the worst cases of acne consumed a high-glycemic diet over seven days.

What About Milk and Milk Products?

Studies on Milk:

1. Study on 47,000 Women (United States):
   • Findings: Those who drank two or more glasses of milk per day were 44% more likely to have acne.
2. Study on Over 6,000 Teenage Girls (United States):
   • Findings: Those drinking the most cow’s milk were most likely to have acne.
3. Study on Over 4,000 Boys (United States):
   • Findings: Those drinking nonfat milk were more likely to have acne.
4. Study on 88 Malaysian Patients:
   • Findings: Half of the patients with acne consumed more milk and a higher glycemic diet than those without acne.

Can Food Cause Acne? The Bottom Line

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What Are the Tests of a Urinalysis and Their Normal Ranges?

Chemistry Test Normal Results:

• Color: Straw
• Turbidity: Clear
• pH (acidity): 5 to 9
• Specific gravity: 1.003 to 1.030
• Protein: Negative
• Glucose (sugar): Negative
• Ketones: Negative
• Bile: Negative
• Urobilinogen: Trace to 1 mg/dL
• Blood: Negative
• Leukocyte esterase: Negative
• Nitrite: Negative

Microscopy Normal Results:

• White blood cells: 0 to 5
• Red blood cells: 0 to 4
• Casts: 0 to 1
• Squamous cells: 1 to 5
• Transitional cells: 0 to 2
• Bacteria: 0 to occasional

Where Can I Get an Urinalysis Test?

1. Order the Test: Visit QuickMD’s lab ordering page to order a urinalysis test.
2. Make an Appointment: Schedule an appointment at your nearest LabCorp location.
3. Sample Collection and Testing: LabCorp will collect the urine sample and perform the test.
4. Once LabCorp reports your results, a QuickMD physician will promptly contact you to discuss them, ensuring you are fully informed and prepared for the next steps.
5. Next Steps: If your results are abnormal, your physician will discuss the next steps with you.

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